Electrically operable control mechanism



June 4, 1940. J. E. QUINLIVAN ELECTRICALLY OPEBABLE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 3, 1938 III II Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE CONTROL IMECHANISM John Everett Quinlivan, Sioux Falls, 8. Dak., as-

signor oi one-fourth to Gerrit De Yount, Sioux Falls, S. Dak.

Application December 3, 1938, Serial No. 243.879 1 Claim. .(Cl. 111-97) This invention relates to an electrically operable control mechanism, and has particular reference to an electrically operable control mechanism including, as its operation initiating means, a photo-electric cell which permits current flow therethrough when subjected to light.

While the invention is capable 01 a wide variety of uses, it is particularly intended for automatically controlling the dimming oi the head lamps of automobiles or other vehicles responsive to the light emitted from the headlamps of approaching automobiles or other vehicles, and in that connection the general object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism which is simple, practical, capable of easy installation on automobiles and other vehicles and which is thoroughly reliable in operation.

According to the invention, a switch element is shittable between two positions, in one of which it closes a circuit through the "bright filaments or bulbs 01 the headlamps and in the other of which it closes a circuit through the "dim filaments or bulbs of the headlamps. A spring tends constantly to project said switch element to its second mentioned position and a latch is constantly spring pressed toward a position to hold said switch element in its first mentioned or retracted position. The switch element is manually retracted to its first mentioned position in which it is held by the latch, and means is provided for releasing said latch responsive to the subjecting of the photo-electric cell to light. Accordingly, when the bright headlamps are in use and the photo-electric cell is subjected to light emitted from the headlamps of an approaching vehicle, the latch is released and the switch element is spring projected to its second mentioned position to cause dimming of the headlamps. The switch element must be manually retracted to its first mentioned position to restore a bright headlamp condition. In this connection another and special object of the invention is to provide means whereby the switch element cannot be retracted to its first mentioned position as long as the photo-electric cell is subjected to light, thus to preclude the possibility of the driver of a vehicle using "bright headlamps so long as an approaching vehicle is in a position in which light from its headlamps afiect the photo-electric cell.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the novel combination and arrangement of features as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and defined in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

6 Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the bright headlamp status of the parts of the mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the dim headlamp status of the parts of the mechanism, and

Fig. 3 is a diagram of an amplifying means employed in conjunction with the photo-electric cell have cooperating therewith a contact finger I6 which, in any suitable manner, is constantly connected with one side of a battery H the other side of which is grounded as indicated at l8. Accordingly, when the contact finger I6 is engaged with the contact l4 current flows through the bright filament ll of the headlamp l0, and when said contact finger is engaged with the contact [5 current flows through the dim filament l2 oi the headlamp.

The contact finger I6 is carried by a projectable and retractable switch element l9 and, in the present instance, is constantly slidably engaged with a contact 20 connected by a conductor 2| to the first mentioned side of the battery ll, whereby, when said contact finger is engaged with either of the contacts H or I5, a. circuit from the battery through the related lamp filament is completed.

The switch element 19 may be mounted for projection and retraction in any suitable manner, and its mounting is such that when it is retracted the contact finger I6 is engaged with the contact l4, and when it is projected said contact finger I6 is engaged with the contact IS.

A spring 22 cooperating with the switch element i 9 in any suitable manner tends constantly to project said switch element. On the other hand, a latch 23 cooperating withsaid switch element in any suitable manner, is effective to hold said switch element retracted against the tendency of the spring 22 to project the same.

in the present instance the spring 22 is the form of a compression spring interposed between one end of the switch element I19 and a suitable abutment it. it may, however, be otherwise'as-= sociated with said switch element and, instead of being a compression spring, it obviously may be a tension spring. Also, in the present in stance, the latch 23 is formed at one end to engage in a notch in the switch element 09 and to cooperate with a shoulder of said switch element formed by said notch to hold said switch element retracted. Obviously, however, the specific arrangement in this respect is immaterial and any equivalent of the arrangement shown may be employed.

A spring of any suitable type cooperates in any suitable manner with the latch to urge the same constantly in a direction for holding cooperation with the switch element 09. Accordirgly, whenever the latch 23 is released and the switch element ill is projected and subsequently is manually retracted, said latch 23 operates to releasably hold said switch element in its retracted position.

An armature 28 is carried by the latch 23 and a suitable electro-magnet Al is provided for cooperation with said armature, the arrangement in this respect being such that when said electromagnet is energized the same operates through the armature 26 to retract the latch 23 and effect its release, thereby to release the switch element 89 for projection by the spring '22. Of course, when the electro-magnet 27 is deenergized, the spring 25 is free to project the latch 23 in a direction to latch the switch element it) in its retracted position upon manual retraction of the same.

Mounted adjacent the latch 23 are companion contacts 23 and 29, the former of which is connected with the battery ill, in the present in-- stance through the conductor 2i, and the latter of which is connected with one end of the winding 30 of the electro-magnet 2i. The other end of the winding 3t is connected to one side of a normally open switch 3!] the other side of which is grounded as indicated at 32 (Fig. 3). Moreover, a switch arm 33 is carried by the latch 23 in a position to bridge the contacts 28, 29 when said latch 23 is in its projected position holding the switch element is retracted. Accordingly, upon closing of the switch St a circuit through the electro-rnagnet 2? is closed, the same is energized and the latch 23 is retracted, thereby releasing the switch element 09 for projection. Upon retraction of the latch 23 the switch arm 33 becomes disengaged from the contacts 23, 2%, thereby opening the electro-magnet circuit, but before this occurs the switch element to is projected and the circuit through the dim filament I2 of the lamp it is closed. Of course, upon opening of the circuit of the electro-magnet 21, the spring 25 becomes effective to project the latch 23 so that when the switch element i9 subsequently is manually retracted it is held retracted.

Closing of the switch Si is under the control of a photo-electric cell designated generally as 34. This cell may be mounted at any suitable point on the vehicle so'that it is exposed to the light of the headlamps of an approaching vehicle. Accordingly, assuming a retracted status of the switch element 19 and a consequent bright light status of the headlamp H] as shown in Fig. 1, it is manifest that upon the approach of a vehicle and subjecting of the photo-electric cell 36 to the light of tne headlamps oi the ap proaching vehicle, the switch 36 will close, latch 23 will be retracted, thereby releasing the switch element [19, and the latter will be projected with consequent dimming oi the headlamp i0.

Means is provided whereby, once the switch element to has been projected, it cannot be retracted so long as the switch ill remains closed due to continued subjectance oi the photo-electric cell El i to light. This is for the purpose oi precluding the use of the bright headlamps in lighted areas or, for example, while the vehicle is passing a succession of approaching vehicles on a highway.

The means referred to comprises a latch element 35 mounted for movement by a solenoid 36 into a notch 37 in the switch element is when said switch element is projected; a spring 38 tending constantly to move said latch element out of said notch to release the switch element ill for retraction, and switch means comprising companion contacts 39 and E53 positioned to be bridged by, the switch arm 33 when the latch 23 is retracted.

The contact 39 is connected to one end of the winding of the solenoid 36; the other end of the winding of said solenoid is connected to the battery ill, and the contact Ed is connected to one side of the switch ill. Thus, upon retraction of latch 23 and projection or" switch element l9, switch arm it acts as a contacting element between. contacts to and 39, which causes the electro-magnet so to be energized and magnet El to be deenergized, the switch arm 23 thereby is maintained in bridging relationship to the contacts 39, 4d, the solenoid 36 consequently is maintained energized and the latch element 35 is maintained in the notch Ei'l locking the switch element is against retraction, Of course, as soon as the switch 88 opens, the electro-magnet 36 is deenergized, with the result that the spring 38 retracts the latch element 35 from the notch 37.

The swltchelement is then is free for manual the switch 38, and in order that the photo-electric cell 34 may operate to cause a sufliciently strong current to flow through said electro-magnet 4| to close said switch 3l, an amplifying circuit including a vacuum tube 42 is employed between said photo-electric cell and said switch 3|. One side of the photo-electric cell is connected with the grid 43 of said tube; the other side of said cell is connected with one side of the filament 44 of said tube and with one end of the winding of the electro-magnet 4| and the other end of the winding of said electro-magnet is connected to the plate 45 of the tube 42. A battery 46 supplies current to the filament 44 of the vacuum tube 42 and a battery, or batteries in the circuit of the electro-magnet 4i furnish current for energizing said electro-magnet. When the photoelectric cell is subjected to light it permits the passage of a small current which, acting through the vacuum tube 42 in a known manner, causes a sufllciently strong current flow through the electro-magnet 4| to close the switch 2|.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the acompanying drawing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention, whether used for the purpose of controlling the dimming of automobile headlamps or for an analogous purpose, will be clearly understood. Further, it is believed to be manifest that while only a single, specific em bodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, the same is readily capable of various modifications and of embodiment in various specifically difierent forms within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

An electric control system for dimming headlights, comprising, headlamps having bright and moving the switch to the second position, a latch for holding the switch in the second position, electrically operated locking means for maintaining the switch in the first position when energized, means operated by the photo-electric cell by the presence of light thereon for retracting said latch thereby permitting the switch to be operated to the first position by said yieldable means from the second position, and means operative while the switch is in the first position for switching the control by said photo-electric cell to said locking means to effect the locking of the switch in the first position as long as said photoelectric cell is infiuenced by light thereon.

JOHN EVERETT QUINLIVAN. 

